The noise is bad, should you be concerned?

We’ve all been there: You start your car in the morning and begin to back out of the driveway. You hear an unusual noise coming from your car, and it sounds bad. How do you know if it's something you should bring in to us here at Flagstaff Transmission Specialists to get looked at? Questioning the severity of the sound is a smart immediate response because the difference between a squeaky joint and near-catastrophic engine failure can be a big one.

In some cases, a sound could mean that you need to rush to our shop here in Flagstaff, while others only require you to make an appointment with us later in the month. Unfortunately, most of us need to log some serious wrench time before learning to recognize the various sounds a car can make. That’s why we’re covering the three most common sounds your vehicle may make and what to do if you hear one.

High-Pitched Squealing - Most modern brakes have a metal ‘squeal’ tab built into them to alert you that the pads are worn. The squeal occurs when the wear indicator clip or pin rubs against the rotor because the pad is too thin. The sound might be intermittent at first, causing some confusion over what the source of it is. But as you continue to drive and use your brakes, the sound will become more steady – and you’ll hear it every time you step on the brakes. Sometimes you might hear intermittent squeals due to the construction of the pad and the wear against the rotor, which isn't an indication of a larger problem. What to do: At a minimum, check the brake pad thickness (or have our professionals check for you). If they are worn down, change them. The longer you drive with worn brake pads, the more likely it is that there will be damage to the rotors.

Mechanical Sound with Loose Steering - This one is a combo act. If you feel that the steering wheel has loosened up and at the same time you hear clicks in the front of your vehicle, it probably means you have worn joints. Most commonly, it will be either your tie rod ends or your upper and lower ball joints that have gone bad. What to do: It’s very important that you take your vehicle to the mechanic right away if you notice these warning signs. It can be dangerous to drive your car in this condition. Our certified mechanics can help you.

Mechanical, Knocking Sound When Turning - This knocking, metallic noise can be heard coming from the front of your vehicle. If you hear it only when making turns, it often signifies that you have a worn or failing CV joint. What to do: Bring your vehicle to our trusted mechanics and get the CV joints checked. Once again, this is another repair that needs to be taken care of sooner rather than later to prevent further damage and potential accidents.

When you hear unusual sounds coming from your vehicle, chances are it's time to bring your car, truck, or SUV to Flagstaff Transmission Specialists and let our certified mechanics get your vehicle in running order. Not only will you save money by repairing the problem when it occurs, but you'll save yourself from bigger headaches down the road if you act quickly.

Thank you for visiting Flagstaff Transmission Specialists in Flagstaff, AZ. You can count on our automotive repair technicians and transmission specialist to keep your car, truck, suv, van, or entire fleet on the roads longer and safer.